Tamil Nadu’s maiden Col. C. K. Nayudu Trophy title marked a memorable conclusion to an impressive Under-23 season, with the side also lifting the BCCI men’s U-23 State-A (One-Day) Trophy to complete a rare double.
Head coach Guru Kedarnath described the achievement as “unmatched,” reflecting on Wednesday’s triumph as an “unbelievable feeling,” particularly after the team negotiated a demanding and fragmented schedule.
The C.K. Nayudu Trophy was conducted in two phases — from October 16 to November 5 and from January 23 to March 12 — with the State-A one-day competition held in between, from November 9 to December 1. Kedarnath pointed out that the 52-day break between the one-day event and the second phase of the four-day tournament posed a challenge, but the momentum gained from winning the shorter-format title proved beneficial.
“It’s a challenge, but that’s the scheduling. We have to find ways to prepare. It was good that we won the one-day tournament and were able to carry that forward into the four-day competition,” he said.
Squad Continuity Key to Success
A significant overlap between the two squads played a vital role in Tamil Nadu’s consistent performances throughout the season. Kedarnath noted that maintaining a stable core group helped foster leadership within the team environment.
“The core remained the same, which always helps. They become the leaders on and off the field. Even when two or three new players come in, the leaders within the group drive them,” he explained.
He also emphasised the importance of the team’s culture in sustaining their success across formats. “The way they took ownership and accountability was fantastic.”
Captain Boopathi Vaishna Kumar shared similar views, highlighting the unity within the squad. “Everyone was like a family. When someone went through a bad patch, everyone backed them,” he said.
Positive Signs for the Future
Kedarnath believes that securing both titles will benefit the development pathway leading to the senior side. He stressed that the experience gained during the campaign would help the players better manage pressure situations in the future.
“These are the feeders to the senior side. They now know what needs to be done to win and how to handle pressure in knockout games,” he added.
